Dozen militants killed in suspected US strike in Pakistan: security official

Source: AFP

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - At least a dozen militants including foreign fighters were killed Wednesday in a suspected US missile strike on two houses in northwestern Pakistan, a senior security official said.

Two missiles apparently fired by a US drone aircraft demolished a house and a compound used by suspected Al-Qaeda militants in Bajaur tribal region near the border with Afghanistan, the official, who declined to be identified, told AFP.

"We have reports that the missile strike killed at least 12 militants including some foreigners," the official said.

The houses targetted belonged to Maulvi Taj Mohammad and Maulvi Hassan, the official said, though it was unclear if they had been killed in the strikes.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080514/wl_asia_afp/pakistanafghanistanmissile

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Maulvi Omar, a spokesman for Taliban militants in Pakistan, said the house that was hit belonged to an ethnic Pashtun tribesman and women and children had been inside.

"Drones are still in the sky," Omar said by telephone.

A Pakistani military spokesman said he had no information about any missile strike.

PAKISTANI SOVEREIGNTY

Neither U.S. nor Pakistani authorities officially confirm U.S. missile attacks on Pakistani territory, which would be an infringement of Pakistani sovereignty.

The strike on Wednesday was the first since a new Pakistani government was formed about six weeks ago.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080514/wl_nm/pakistan_missile_dc

:sarcasm:

Doesn't make me all that happy to tell you the truth. I hope for better from our candidate..

When Obama said he would attack terrorists within Pakistan, the rightwing threw a hissy fit.

Watch as they applaud Bush for bombing terrorists within Pakistan.

When did we declare war on Pakistan? I hope they won't use the ICBMs with Nuclear war heads on us. Wonder if we are helping Turkey bomb the Kurds this week? How much damage can this Administration do before their time runs out? I supposed they could bomb Iran while they are at it. Shit.

Earlier Wednesday, a Pakistani army spokesman, Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas, said tribal elders mediating in the peace talks with the Taliban had secured the release of seven security personnel, including two army officers.

In return, authorities released 30 people detained in Waziristan, a key militant stronghold overlooking the Afghan border, Abbas said.

He described the 30 only as "tribal people." But three Pakistani intelligence officials, who agreed to discuss the matter only if not quoted by name because they were not authorized to speak to journalists, all said the freed men were suspected militants.

Pakistan's new civilian government has offered to negotiate with militants who renounce violence. But Western officials worry poorly enforced peace deals will allow al-Qaida and Taliban militants to build up their strength and further fortify their havens in the semiautonomous tribal belt on the Pakistani side of the frontier.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_missile_strike_3